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Earthquake Answers

How the seismograph works

Scientists use the instrument called a seismograph. This instrument helps them (scientists), to measure the earthquakes.
The seismograph moves when the earth is shaking, there is a recording device that measures how far the rest of the seismograph has moved with the mass.

How do aftershocks occur

Aftershocks normally happen two days after the actual earthquake. Aftershocks are able to do lots of damage. They have enough power to crumble buildings, roads and bridges. This happens because the Pressure Plates under the earth are unstable or still moving.

What is the epicenter of an earthquake

An epicenter is is the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake.


How do earthquakes start?

Earthquakes are a natural disaster, it starts when the plates under the earth scrape together and then the energy makes the ground move, then thats when buildings get damaged or destroyed


Where do Earthquakes come from?

They come from two plates under the earth that scrape together.



How do the plates move?

They scrape together and they use energy to make the ground move.


How far down do the cracks go?

The cracks go at least 6 378km.


How far do they spread?

Earthquakes spread back and forth even up and down.


How long do they go for?

They last for a few seconds but it is enough to make buildings, trees, bridges ect fall and get damaged or destroyed.



How much damage can they do?

Even with a few seconds they can do a lot of damage, they could put cracks in the ground and do bad damage, people can get very injured or they can die from being stuck in buildings and cars, because when they are in cars rocks can fall from buildings onto cars.


What causes the ground to move?

When the plates are scraping energy comes and that causes the ground to shake

Is a volcano related to a earthquake?

An earthquake can be caused in two ways, there is a volcanic earthquake and a tectonic earthquake. So sometimes a volcano can be and sometimes its not. A volcanic earthquake will obviously be worse but a normal earthquake is still very bad.